When he was growing up in Summerland, Tony Holler’s family owned an orchard, but he seemed to put all that behind him when he became a doctor and later researched and developed biomedical products. But he and his wife, Barbara Holler, decided to return to their roots about a decade ago, buying a large vineyard on the Naramata Bench and partnering with Ian Sutherland, then the owner of Poplar Grove Winery.

The director of sales and marketing at Poplar Grove and Monster Vineyards, Laurie Barnes, told the Straight by phone that the Hollers recently bought Sutherland’s stake.

“He got to live the dream in Panama,” she said with a laugh. “Tony owns and runs the winery as the owner and president; his wife, Barb, manages all the vineyards. It’s all Poplar Grove.”

The wine is entirely made from estate fruit. Barnes said that the red wines are aged 18 months in the barrel and then 18 months in the cellar before being released. The signature red (see below) can be aged for up to five years.

“It’s so important with wine—especially when you’re making wines to cellar and to be aged—to wait so that people get the full expression of the fruit,” Barnes said.
Along with several other wineries on the Naramata Bench, Poplar Grove hosts a roll-out-the-barrel event on May 9.

Signature wine: Originally called Poplar Grove Reserve, the name was changed in 2004 to Poplar Grove The Legacy. “There are always certain sections of vineyards that just outperform others in a given year,” Barnes explained. “So the winemaking team keeps all the vineyard blocks separate. Then they go through three times a year to taste them to see which ones are best. They take those barrels and make The Legacy.”

Fun fact: Poplar Grove Winery is large enough to host weddings with more than 100 people in attendance.

Address: Poplar Grove Winery, 425 Middle Bench Road North, Penticton, B.C., 250-493-9463.